California State Controller John Chiang is taking on Governor Schwarzenegger again, as the governor had ordered the state office to cut the pay of nearly 200,000 state employees to the federal minimum, which is currently $7.25 per hour as the State of California goes through another budget battle.
Chiang is now counter-suing Arnold. Chiang’s suit complains that he is being forced to choose between violating Schwarzenegger’s order or violating various federal and state laws.
First of all, why is Schwarzenegger cutting pay to the federal minimum? Shouldn’t that be to the California state minimum wage? Another argument that Chiang makes is that the current state payroll system (which is currently upgraded and will be completed in a few years), is incapable of making such changes. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is not possible in a computer system – I mean, how do you temporarily make a change from a salaried person to an hourly job? I am sure we will be hearing more and more about Chiang and Schwarzenegger
By the way, this isn’t the first time Chiang has taken on the Governator, but it may be the last, as Schwarzenegger is in the last months of his second term and is term-limited.